Killer driver from Hinckley tells his story on fire service road safety website

A driver imprisoned for causing the death of two of his friends in a crash is being featured on a new road safety website targeting young people.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is launching the Fatal Four: Cause and Effect website at the Emergency Services Show, at the NEC, in Birmingham.

The website will focus on the story of Michael York, 21, from Hinckley, who crashed his car into a tree by the side of the B4114, near Croft, while returning home from a night out in Leicester.

His friends Matthew Brown and Samuel Turner were killed. York was jailed for five years for causing their deaths by careless driving.

From tomorrow, visitors to the website can see information about the dangers of driving under the influence of drink and drugs, using mobile phones, speeding and failing to wear a seatbelt.

Dave Webb, the service's chief fire and rescue officer, said: "The website will offer a unique range of resources, including fact sheets and hard-hitting videos, free of charge, in an attempt to reduce the high number of fatalities on our roads involving young drivers.

"These resources have been designed to offer educators the best and most influential road safety material when teaching students between the ages of 15 and 19."

The website features a five-minute video in which York, who was more than twice the drink-drive limit when he crashed, talks candidly about the accident, the events leading up it and his torment.

Filmed in his cell at Glen Parva Young Offender Institution, he said: "If I could choose 25 to 50 years in jail and not have those thoughts in my head, I would choose 50 years happily. It destroys a person. It destroys them."

He tells how he and his friends had gone into Leicester city centre for a few drinks.

At about 5.45am they decided to head home.

CCTV footage used in the video shows York, Matthew Brown, 23, and brothers William and Samuel Turner, 18, walking through town and stumbling into the car park at Highcross.